U.S. patent application number 10/059481 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for connector apparatus.
Invention is credited to Barr, Alexander W., Kusters, Johannes Petrus Maria, Meredith, Kevin R., Ramey, Samuel C..
Application Number | 20020123266 10/059481 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23471177 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020123266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramey, Samuel C. ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Connector apparatus
Abstract
An electrical header connector of the present invention includes
a header body formed to include a plurality of first openings and a
plurality of second openings. The header body having a front wall
and a back wall. A plurality of signal pins are configured for
insertion into the plurality of first openings. Each signal pin
includes a first end extending from the front wall of the header
body to form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced
apart from the first end and extending from the back wall of the
header body. A plurality of shield blades are configured for
insertion into the plurality of second openings. Each of the
plurality of shield blades has a first end extending from the front
wall of the header body adjacent to the first end of a signal pin,
a second end extending from the back wall of the header body
adjacent to the second end of the signal pin, and a generally right
angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an
intermediate portion of the signal pin. The first and second
openings are arranged in the header body such that the generally
right angle shielding portions of shield blades substantially
surround the signal pins to form a coaxial shield around each of
the plurality of signal pins.
Inventors: |
Ramey, Samuel C.;
(Naperville, MN) ; Barr, Alexander W.;
(Louisville, KY) ; Meredith, Kevin R.; (Cedar
Park, TX) ; Kusters, Johannes Petrus Maria; (Cedar
Park, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Office of Intellectual Property Counsel
3M Innovative Properties Company
PO Box 33427
St. Paul
MN
55133-3427
US
|
Family ID: |
23471177 |
Appl. No.: |
10/059481 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10059481 |
Jan 29, 2002 |
|
|
|
09837120 |
Apr 18, 2001 |
|
|
|
6371813 |
|
|
|
|
09837120 |
Apr 18, 2001 |
|
|
|
09564239 |
May 4, 2000 |
|
|
|
6231391 |
|
|
|
|
09564239 |
May 4, 2000 |
|
|
|
09373147 |
Aug 12, 1999 |
|
|
|
6146202 |
|
|
|
|
60096219 |
Aug 12, 1998 |
|
|
|
60105835 |
Oct 16, 1998 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/607.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/585 20130101;
H01R 13/447 20130101; H01R 43/205 20130101; H01R 13/514 20130101;
H01R 12/724 20130101; H01R 13/6471 20130101; H01R 13/516 20130101;
H01R 13/6586 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/608 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/648 |
Claims
1. An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of
horizontal shields configured for insertion into the housing, and a
plurality of connector modules configured for insertion into the
housing, each connector module including an insulated material
encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each coupled to a
forwardly-extending receptacle contact, the receptacle contacts are
formed to include a plurality of horizontally-extending slots
configured to receive the horizontal shields when the connector
modules are inserted into the housing.
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein each connector module includes
a vertical shield extending along a first side thereof, wherein
each vertical shield includes a plurality of shield fingers
extending forwardly in substantial alignment with the
forwardly-extending receptacle contacts, and wherein the
forwardly-extending shield fingers engage the horizontal shields to
form coaxial shields around the receptacle contacts when the
connector modules are inserted into the housing.
3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the shield fingers are formed
to include a plurality of horizontally-extending slots configured
to receive the horizontal shields when the connector modules are
inserted into the housing.
4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the coaxial shields are formed
around pairs of receptacle contacts.
5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the pairs of receptacle
contacts enclosed in coaxial shields form differential pairs in
adjacent columns.
6. The connector of claim 4, wherein the pairs of receptacle
contacts enclosed in coaxial shields form differential pairs in
adjacent rows.
7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the horizontally-extending
slots formed by the receptacle contacts are formed between
successive pairs of receptacle contacts.
8. An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of connector
modules, each connector module including an insulated material
encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each connector module
being further formed to include a plurality of laterally-extending
openings which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive
paths, a plurality of shields including first shield portions
extending along first sides of the plurality of connector modules
and second shield portions extending into the laterally-extending
openings in the plurality of connector modules to form coaxial
shields around the conductive paths, and a housing configured to
receive the plurality of connector modules and shields.
9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the coaxial shields are formed
around pairs of conductive paths.
10. An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of
connector modules configured for insertion into the housing, each
connector module including an insulated material encasing a
plurality of conductive paths, each connector module being further
formed to include a plurality of passageways which are interleaved
with the plurality of conductive paths, and which extend laterally
between opposite sides of the connector modules, a plurality of
first shields configured for insertion into the housing, each first
shield extending along a first side of an associated connector
module, the first shields being formed to include a plurality of
passageways extending laterally between opposite sides thereof in
substantial alignment with the passageways in the connector modules
to form a plurality of laterally-extending channels, and a
plurality of second shields configured for insertion into the
plurality of laterally-extending channels in the plurality of
connector modules and first shields, the second shields being
electrically coupled to the first shields to form coaxial shields
around the conductive paths.
11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the coaxial shields are
formed around pairs of conductive paths.
12. An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of
connector modules, each connector module including an insulated
material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, the plurality of
connector modules being coupled to the housing, each connector
module being formed to include a plurality of passageways which are
interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of
first shields extending along a first side of an associated
connector module, and a plurality of second shields, each second
shield being configured for insertion into one of the passageways
formed by the plurality of connector modules, the plurality of
first shields being electrically coupled to the plurality of second
shields to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths.
13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the coaxial shields are
formed around pairs of conductive paths.
14. An electrical connector comprising: a body formed to include a
front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of first and second
openings extending through the body to provide a passageway through
the front and back walls, a plurality of signal pins configured for
insertion into the plurality of first openings, each signal pin
including a first end extending from the front wall of the body to
form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced apart from
the first end and extending from the back wall of the body, and a
plurality of shield blades configured for insertion into the
plurality of second openings, each of the plurality of shield
blades having a first end extending from the front wall of the body
adjacent to the first end of a signal pin, a second end extending
from the back wall of the body adjacent to the second end of said
signal pin and a generally right angle shielding portion configured
to be disposed adjacent to an intermediate portion of said signal
pin.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/837,120, filed on Apr. 18, 2001, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/564,239, filed
on May 4, 2000, which is continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/373,147, filed on Aug. 12, 1999, and which claims the
benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/096,219,
filed on Aug. 12, 1998, and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/105,835, filed on Oct. 16, 1998. All
of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This invention relates to two-part electrical connectors,
and particularly to two-part high-speed backplane electrical
connectors. More particularly, this invention relates to
improvements in shielded two-part high-speed backplane electrical
connectors.
[0003] Conductors carrying high frequency signals and currents are
subject to interference and cross talk when placed in close
proximity to other conductors carrying high frequency signals and
currents. This interference and cross talk can result in signal
degradation and errors in signal reception. Coaxial and shielded
cables are available to carry signals from a transmission point to
a reception point, and reduce the likelihood that the signal
carried in one shielded or coaxial cable will interfere with the
signal carried by another shielded or coaxial cable in close
proximity. However, at points of connection, the shielding is often
lost allowing interference and cross talk between signals. The use
of individual shielded wires and cables is not desirable at points
of connections due to the need for making a large number of
connections in a very small space. In these circumstances, two-part
high-speed backplane electrical connectors containing multiple
shielded conductive paths are used.
[0004] This design is based on, but not limited to, the industry
standard for a two-part high-speed backplane electrical connector
for electrically coupling a motherboard (also known as "backplane")
to a daughtercard is set forth in the U.S. by specification IEC
1076-4-101 from the International Electrotechnical Commission. This
specification sets out parameters for 2 mm, two-part connectors for
use with printed circuit boards. The IEC specification defines a
socket connector that includes female receptacle contacts and a
header connector that contains male pin contacts configured for
insertion into the female receptacle contacts of the socket
connector.
[0005] A two-part high-speed backplane electrical connector with
improved electromagnetic shielding comprises a socket connector and
a header connector. The socket connector includes a plurality of
connector modules. Each connector module includes an insulated
material encasing a plurality of conductive paths. Each connector
module is formed to include a plurality of laterally-extending
openings which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive
paths. The socket connector further includes a to plurality of
shields including first shield portions extending along first sides
of the plurality of connector modules, and second shield portions
extending into the laterally-extending openings in the plurality of
connector modules to form a coaxial shield around each conductive
path.
[0006] According to the present invention, a header connector
includes a header body formed to include a plurality of first
openings and a plurality of second openings. A plurality of signal
pins are configured for insertion into the plurality of first
openings to form an array of pin contacts extending therefrom. A
plurality of shield blades are configured for insertion into the
plurality of second openings. Each of the plurality of shield
blades is formed to include a generally right angle shielding
portion configured to be disposed adjacent to at least one of the
plurality of signal pins to form a coaxial shield around each
signal pin.
[0007] According to a further aspect of the invention, the
generally right angle shielding portion of each of the plurality of
shield blades includes first and second leg portions. Each of the
plurality of second openings in the header body has a generally
right angle cross-section for receiving the generally right angle
shielding portion of a shield blade. Each generally right angle
second opening includes first and second narrowed portions
dimensioned to engage the first and second leg portions of the
generally right angle shielding portion of a shield blade to hold
the shield blade in place.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of
the plurality of generally right angle second openings in the
header body includes a central portion coupled to first and second
end portions by the first and second narrowed portions. The central
portion and the first and second end portions of each generally
right angle second opening are formed to provide an air gap
surrounding the generally right angle shielding portion of a shield
blade. The geometry and dimensions of the air gaps, the geometry,
dimensions and material of the right angle shielding portions, and
the geometry, dimensions and material of the header body
surrounding the air gaps are configured to tune the header
connector to match a specified impedance.
[0009] A protective cap according to still another aspect of the
present invention includes a front wall formed to include a
plurality of blind holes configured to receive first ends of the
signal pins of the header connector when the protective cap is
inserted into the header body to protect the signal pins during
shipping and handling of the header connector to a customer's
facility. The protective cap include a surface configured to engage
a portion of the header body surrounding the signal pins, and the
blind holes include a surface configured to engage a portion of the
signal pins to permit the protective cap to be used as a
termination tool to press fit the header connector on the printed
circuit board at the customer's facility.
[0010] Additional features of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the
best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly in
accordance with the present invention showing a socket connector
having an array of female receptacle contacts positioned for
insertion into a header connector having a corresponding array of
male pin contacts,
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the socket connector of FIG. 1
in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, and
showing, from left to right, a front cap including a front wall
having an inner surface formed to include a plurality of
vertically-extending rectangular dividers, one of seven horizontal
shields (sometimes referred to herein as "third shields")
configured for insertion into one of seven laterally-extending
slots in the vertically-extending rectangular dividers to form
eight laterally-extending compartments, one of a plurality of
connector modules having eight forwardly-extending female
receptacle contacts internally coupled to eight
downwardly-extending pin tails, one of a plurality of vertical
stripline shields (sometimes referred to herein as "first shields")
having eight forwardly-extending shield fingers and eight
downwardly-extending shield tails configured to be to extend along
a first side of the connector module so that eight
forwardly-extending shield fingers of the vertical stripline shield
are generally aligned with eight forwardly-extending receptacle
contacts of the connector module and eight downwardly-extending
shield tails of the vertical stripline shield are disposed adjacent
to the eight downwardly-extending pin tails of the connector
module, both the connector modules and the stripline shields having
eight laterally-extending angled passageways therethrough into
which eight laterally-extending angled tailshields (sometimes
referred to herein as "second shields") are inserted to form a
coaxial shield around each conductive path in the connector
modules,
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front cap of FIG. 2
rotated anti-clockwise approximately 60 degrees from the
orientation shown in FIG. 2, and showing an array of pin-insertion
windows formed in the front wall, the array of pin-insertion
windows being arranged in columns of eight pin-insertion
windows,
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front cap of FIGS. 2-3
shown in the same orientation as shown in FIG. 2, and more fully
showing vertically-extending rectangular dividers projecting
inwardly from the front wall for horizontally separating the
receptacle contacts of the connector modules and for vertically
separating the horizontal shields, and further showing a plurality
of preopening fingers projecting inwardly from the front wall and
arranged for insertion into opposed cantilevered fingers of the
receptacle contacts for facilitating insertion of pin contacts of
the header connector therein, and a plurality of guide slots formed
in the internal surfaces of the top and bottom laterally-extending
walls of the front cap for guiding insertion of the connector
modules and vertical stripline shields therein,
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of seven horizontal
shields configured to be inserted into one of seven
laterally-extending slots between the inwardly-extending
rectangular dividers in the front cap, seven horizontal shields
forming eight laterally-extending compartments in the front cap for
vertically separating and shielding eight receptacle contacts of
the connector modules from each other,
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the horizontal
shield including an inner layer of shielding material sandwiched
between two outer layers of insulating material, the front and back
edges of the horizontal shields being formed to include a plurality
of cutouts through which a plurality of flexible contacts of the
inner shielding layer project for electrically contacting the
forwardly-extending shield fingers of the vertical stripline
shields near the front and back of the horizontal shields when the
connector modules and vertical stripline shields are inserted into
the front cap to form a coaxial shield around each receptacle
contact,
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of contact circuitry encased in
the connector module, and showing eight separate conductive paths,
each electrically connecting a single forwardly-extending
receptacle contact to the left of figure to a corresponding
downwardly-extending pin tail to the bottom-right of figure,
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of
connector modules showing an insulated case encasing eight
individual conductive paths, eight forwardly-extending receptacle
contacts each having two opposed cantilevered fingers to the left
of figure, eight downwardly-extending pin tails to the bottom-right
of figure, eight laterally-extending angled passageways
therethrough which are interleaved with eight conductive paths
therein for receiving eight laterally-extending angled tailshields,
a horizontal recess above the uppermost conductive path into which
a horizontal cantilevered flange of an associated vertical
stripline shield is inserted, a vertical recess to the right of the
uppermost conductive path into which a vertical cantilevered flange
of the associated vertical stripline shield is inserted, and
further showing a number of interlocking features designed to
facilitate press fitting of the vertical stripline shield to the
connector module,
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing interlocking
of adjacent connector modules, each connector module being formed
to include a plurality of tabs on a first side thereof which are
received in a cutout formed on the second side of an adjacent
connector module to prevent the connector modules from separating
when the socket connector is press fitted onto a printed circuit
board,
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of
vertical stripline shields configured to be coupled to an
associated connector module to form a paired connector unit, each
vertical stripline shield including eight forwardly-extending
shield fingers to the left of figure each aligned with a
forwardly-extending receptacle contact of an associated connector
module, eight downwardly-extending shield tails to the bottom right
of figure which are disposed adjacent to the downwardly-extending
pin tails of the connector module, eight laterally-extending angled
passageways configured to be aligned with eight laterally-extending
angled passageways in the connector module, six small apertures at
the bottom for receiving six small tabs of the connector module,
two large slots for receiving two large tabs of the connector
module, a horizontal cantilevered flange for extending into the
horizontal recess in the connector module, and a vertical
cantilevered flange for extending into the vertical recess in the
connector module,
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a paired connector unit
showing a vertical stripline shield press fitted to an associated
connector module so that eight forwardly-extending shield fingers
of the vertical stripline shield are aligned with eight
forwardly-extending receptacle contacts of the connector module,
eight downwardly-extending shield tails of the vertical stripline
shield are disposed adjacent to eight downwardly-extending pin
tails of the connector module, eight laterally-extending angled
passageways in the vertical stripline shield are aligned with eight
laterally-extending angled passageways in the connector module, six
small tabs of the connector module are received in six small
apertures in the vertical stripline shield, two large tabs of the
connector module are received in two large slots in the vertical
stripline shield, a horizontal cantilevered flange of the vertical
stripline shield is inserted into the horizontal recess in the
connector module, and a vertical cantilevered flange of the
vertical stripline shield is inserted into the vertical recess in
the connector module,
[0023] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a front cap having
seven horizontal shields inserted into the seven
laterally-extending slots between the inwardly-extending
rectangular vertical dividers in the front wall to form eight
horizontally-extending compartments in substantial alignment with
eight rows of pin-insertion windows, and further showing a paired
connector unit aligned with a pair of guide slots formed in the top
and bottom walls of the front cap, the vertical dividers
horizontally separating the forwardly-extending receptacle contacts
of the connector modules from each other and from the
forwardly-extending shield fingers of the vertical stripline
shields, the horizontal shields vertically separating the eight
forwardly-extending receptacle contacts and the eight
forwardly-extending shield fingers from each other, the flexible
contacts at the front and back of the horizontal shields contacting
the forwardly-extending shield fingers of the vertical stripline
shield to form a coaxial shield around each receptacle contact,
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a partially assembled
socket connector to the right of figure, and further showing eight
laterally-extending angled tailshields to the left of figure
positioned for insertion into eight laterally-extending angled
channels in the connector modules and vertical stripline shields,
the vertical stripline shields having two pairs of opposed tabs
projecting into the laterally-extending angled passageways therein
for electrically contacting the laterally-extending tailshields to
form a coaxial shield around each conductive path,
[0025] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing horizontal
tailshields inserted into the laterally-extending angled channels
across the connector modules and the vertical stripline shields to
form a coaxial shield around each conductive path,
[0026] FIG. 14a is a cross-sectional view showing surface mounting
of the pin tails of the socket connector to a printed circuit
board, alternatively--the pin tails may be press fitted into the
holes in the printed circuit board or soldered thereto,
[0027] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the header
connector of FIG. 1 according to another aspect of the present
invention, and showing a signal pin, a continuous strip of shield
blades, a ground pin and a header body, the header body including a
front wall, top and bottom laterally-extending walls extending
perpendicularly from the front wall, and a plurality of first,
second and third openings in the front wall for receiving a
plurality of signal pins, shield blades and ground pins
therein,
[0028] FIG. 15a is a perspective view of the continuous strip of
shield blades 406 of FIG. 15,
[0029] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the front wall of the
header connector showing signal pins surrounded by right angle
portions of the shield blades forming coaxial shields around each
signal pin,
[0030] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing two header bodies
positioned end to end, and a strip of shield blades extending
across the two header bodies, the strip of the header blades being
configured to be inserted into the two header bodies to connect
them together to form a monoblock,
[0031] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a protective cap in
accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the
protective cap protecting the signal pins, the shield blades and
the ground pins of the header connector during shipping and
handling of the header connector to a customer's facility and also
serving to aid the installation of the header connector onto a
printed circuit board at the customer's facility,
[0032] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the protective cap of FIG.
17, turned 180 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 17 to show a
plurality of ribs formed in the front wall thereof, a plurality of
slots for receiving the shield blades of the header connector and a
plurality of holes formed in the ribs for receiving the signal pins
and the ground pins of the header connector,
[0033] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the protective cap of
FIGS. 18 and 19 inserted into the header connector, the protective
cap being partially broken away on one side to show the signal pins
and the shield blades of the header connector,
[0034] FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective cap
of FIGS. 18-20 showing signal pins, shield blades and ground pins
of the header connector inserted into the holes and slots in the
protective cap,
[0035] FIG. 22 shows a socket connector partially inserted into a
header connector so that the array of pin-insertion windows in the
socket connector are aligned with the array of pin contacts in the
header connector prior to the reception of the pin contacts in the
header connector in the receptacle contacts in the socket
connector, and
[0036] FIG. 23 shows the socket connector fully inserted into the
header connector so that the pin contacts of the header connector
are received in the receptacle contacts of the socket connector,
shield blades of the header connector are in engagement with the
shield fingers of the socket connector, and the ground pins of the
header connector are in engagement with the contact arms of the
socket connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] While the connector assembly in accordance with the present
invention may be designed to facilitate making any number of
simultaneous electrical connections, the illustrated connector
assembly is designed to facilitate making electrical connections
which are a multiple of eight (8). Specifically, it will be
understood that the connector assembly in accordance with the
present invention may be designed to facilitate making electrical
connections which are a multiple of any other number, such as two
(2).
[0038] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a two-part
connector assembly 30 in accordance with the present invention
including a socket connector 100 configured to be coupled to a
daughtercard 32, and a header connector 400 configured to be
coupled to a motherboard 34. FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded
perspective view of the socket connector 100 in accordance with one
aspect of the present invention. The socket connector 100 includes
a front cap 102, seven horizontal shields 104 (sometimes referenced
to herein as "third shields"), a plurality of connector modules 106
(also known as "wafers"), a plurality of vertical stripline shields
108 (sometimes referenced to herein as "first shields" or "first
shield portions"), and eight laterally-extending angled tailshields
110 (sometimes referenced to herein as "second shields" or "second
shield portions"). For the sake of clarity, only one each of the
seven horizontal shields 104, the plurality of connector modules
106 and the plurality of vertical stripline shields 108 are shown
in FIG. 2.
[0039] As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front cap 102
includes a housing 120 made from insulating material, and having a
generally vertically-extending front wall 122 and a pair of
laterally-extending, horizontal top and bottom walls 124 and 126.
The front wall 122 is formed to include a plurality pin-insertion
windows 130 extending between an internal surface 132 and an
external surface 134 thereof. As shown, the plurality of
pin-insertion windows 130 are arranged in a grid form as an array
of vertical columns and horizontal rows. In the illustrated
embodiment, there are eight pin-insertion windows 130 in each
column. The internal surface 132 of the front wall 122 is formed to
include a plurality of inwardly-extending, rectangular vertical
dividers 140 having top surfaces 142 and bottom surfaces 144. The
top surfaces 142 of rectangular dividers 140 and the bottom
surfaces 144 of the adjacent higher rectangular dividers 140
cooperate to define seven laterally-extending, horizontal slots 146
into which seven horizontal shields 104 are inserted to form eight
horizontal compartments 148 in substantial alignment with eight
rows of pin-insertion windows 130. Eight horizontal compartments
148 formed in the front cap 102 are configured to receive eight
forwardly-extending receptacle contacts 204 of the connector
modules 106 and eight forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 of the
vertical stripline shields 108 when the connector modules 106 and
the vertical stripline shields 108 are inserted into the front cap
102.
[0040] The internal surface 132 of the front wall 122 is further
formed to include a plurality of inwardly-extending, preopening
fingers 150, which are configured for insertion between opposed
cantilevered beams 208 of the receptacle contacts 204 of the socket
connector 100 to keep the cantilevered beams 208 separated. This
facilitates insertion of signal pins 404 of the header connector
400 into the receptacle contacts 204 of the socket connector 100
when the two are mated as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.
[0041] The laterally-extending top and bottom walls 124 and 126
each include internal surfaces 152 and external surfaces 154. The
internal surfaces 152 of the top and bottom walls 124 and 126 are
formed to include a plurality of inwardly-extending guide slots 156
extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom for guiding
insertion of a plurality of paired connector units 112, each
comprising a vertical stripline shield 108 coupled to a connector
module 106 along a first side 232 thereof as shown in FIG. 11. The
plurality of guide slots 156 are arranged in pairs - a narrower
guide slot 158 for guiding insertion of a vertical stripline shield
108 and an adjacent broader guide slot 160 for guiding insertion of
an associated connector module 106. The front cap 102 may be formed
to include vertical end walls (not shown) extending between the
laterally-extending top and bottom walls 124 and 126 at the
opposite ends thereof.
[0042] FIGS. 5 shows one of seven horizontal shields 104 (also
referred to herein as "third shields") positioned to be inserted
into one of seven laterally-extending slots 146 formed in the front
cap 102. Each horizontal shield 104 includes an inner layer of
shielding material 170 sandwiched between outer layers of
insulating material 172 and 174 as shown in FIG. 6. The horizontal
shields 104 may be formed as a continuous strip by using
insertmolding process. The front and back edges 176 of each
horizontal shield 104 are formed to include a plurality of cutouts
178 through which a plurality of flexible contacts 180 formed in
the inner shielding layer 170 project. The flexible contacts 180 of
the horizontal shields 104 are configured to electrically engage
the forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 of the vertical
stripline shields 108 at the front and back ends of the
forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 upon insertion of the
vertical stripline shields 108 into the front cap 102. The lateral
spacing between the flexible contacts 180 of the horizontal shields
104 is the same as the lateral spacing between the
forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 of the vertical stripline
shields when the vertical stripline shields 108 are inserted into
the front cap 102. The horizontal shields 104 are formed to include
guide slots 182 for guiding insertion of the vertical stripline
shields 108 into the front cap 102 so that the forwardly-extending
shield fingers 274 of the vertical stripline shields 108 are
aligned with the flexible contacts 180 of the horizontal shields
104. The outer insulating layers 172 and 174 of the horizontal
shields 104 vertically separate and insulate the female receptacle
contacts 204 of the connector modules 106 from each other. On the
other hand, the inner shielding layers 170 of the horizontal
shields 104 vertically shield the female receptacle contacts 204 of
the connector modules 106 from each other. Thus the horizontal and
vertical shields 104 and 108 inserted into the front cap 102
cooperate to form a virtual coaxial shield around each female
receptacle contact 204 of the connector modules 106. The use of two
flexible contacts 180 at the front and back of the horizontal
shields 104 serves to distribute ground currents radially around
the receptacle contacts 204, thereby reducing crosstalk between
neighboring signals.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows the contact circuitry 200 encased in the
overmolded connector module 106 made from insulating material. The
contact circuitry 200 includes eight individual conductive current
paths 202, each electrically connecting a single
forwardly-extending receptacle contact 204 to a corresponding
downwardly-extending pin tail 206. Each receptacle contact 204
includes a pair of opposed cantilevered beams 208 into which the
signal pins 404 of the header connector 400 are inserted when the
socket connector 100 and the header connector 400 are mated. Each
conductive path 202 is formed to include a first leg portion 212
substantially parallel to an associated receptacle contact 204, a
second leg portion 214 at an angle to the first leg portion 212,
and a third leg portion 216 substantially parallel to an associated
pin tail 206. The top and bottom conductive paths 202 are
additionally formed to include retention flanges 218 near the upper
and lower receptacle contacts 204.
[0044] FIG. 8 shows one of a plurality of connector modules 106
encasing eight individual conductive paths 202. The connector
modules 106 may be also formed using insert molding process. The
connector module 106 is formed to include eight angled passageways
230 which are interleaved with the eight conductive paths 202, and
which extend laterally between first and second sides 232 and 234
of the connector module. As shown, each laterally-extending angled
passageway 230 in the connector module 106 includes first and
second leg portions 242 and 244 substantially parallel to the first
and second leg portions 212 and 214 of an associated conductive
path 202. The connector module 106 is formed to include a number of
interlocking features for mating with corresponding interlocking
features of the vertical stripline shield 108 to ensure good
support and alignment therebetween, particularly during press
fitting of the socket connector 100 onto a printed circuit board
32. For example, the first side 232 of the connector module 106 is
formed to include a horizontal recess 248 above the uppermost
conductive path 202, a vertical recess 250 to the right of the
uppermost conductive path 202, six small tabs 252 below the
lowermost conductive path 202, and two large tabs 254 one on each
side of the six small tabs 252.
[0045] The six small tabs 252 and the two large tabs 254 are each
formed to have a raised area 262 around the outer periphery thereof
to hold the vertical stripline shields 108 against the associated
connector modules 106 to prevent the vertical stripline shields 108
from slipping during press fitting of the socket connector 100 onto
a printed circuit board 32. The slipping of the vertical stripline
shields 108 may cause the shield tails 276 to roll over or buckle.
Likewise, as shown in FIG. 9, the second side 234 of each connector
module 106 is formed to include a slot 264 extending along the
bottom edge thereof into which the tabs 252 and 254 formed on the
first side 232 of the adjacent connector module 106 are received.
The downwardly-facing surface 266 of the slot 266 overhangs over
the tabs 252 and 254, and exerts a downward force on the
upwardly-facing surfaces of the tabs 252 and 254 during press
fitting of the socket connector 100 onto a printed circuit board 32
to prevent the connector modules 106 from separating. The
separation of the connector modules 106 may cause the pin tails 206
to roll over or buckle. The connector modules 106 are formed to
include grip areas 269, which are used to line up the connector
modules 106 prior to insertion of the laterally-extending
tailshields 110.
[0046] Again referring to FIG. 8, the first sides 232 of the
connector modules 106 are further formed to include three columns
of support bumps 268 near the front, back and the middle of the
connector modules 106 between the laterally-extending angled
passageways 230 therein. The support bumps 268 define the spacing
between the connector modules 106 and the respective vertical
stripline shields 108. The laterally-extending angled tailshields
110 inserted in the laterally-extending angled passageways 230 in
the connector modules 106 cooperate with the three columns of
support bumps 268 to lend rigidity to the socket structure. The
support bumps 262 are configured to form air gaps around the
conductive paths 202 in the connector modules 106 in an assembled
socket connector 100. The geometry and dimensions of the air gaps
surrounding the conductive paths 202 and the geometry and
dimensions of the insulating and shielding materials surrounding
the air gaps are configured to tune the socket connector 100 to
match a specified impedance.
[0047] FIG. 10 shows one of a plurality of vertical stripline
shields 108 configured to be press fitted to an associated
connector module 106 to form a paired connector unit 112. As
previously indicated, both the vertical stripline shields 108 and
the connector modules 106 are formed to include a number of
interlocking features that facilitate press fitting of the vertical
stripline shield 108 to the connector module 106, and ensure good
support and proper alignment of the corresponding elements when the
two are press fitted. For example, each vertical strip line shield
108 includes eight angled passageways 270 extending laterally
between the opposite sides thereof in substantial alignment with
the laterally-extending angled passageways 230 in the connector
modules 106, eight forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 in
substantial alignment with eight forwardly-extending receptacle
contacts 204 of the connector modules 106, eight
downwardly-extending shield tails 276 adjacent to eight
downwardly-extending pin tails 206 of the connector modules 106, a
first horizontal cantilevered top flange 278 configured for
reception in the horizontal recess 248 of the connector module 106,
a first vertical cantilevered flange 280 configured for reception
in the vertical recess 250 of the connector module 106, six small
apertures 282 at the bottom for reception of six small tabs 252 of
the connector module 106, two large slots 284 at the bottom for
reception of two large tabs 254 of the connector module 106, a
second horizontal cantilevered top flange 286 which fits over a top
wall 256 of the connector module 106, a second vertical
cantilevered flange 288 which fits over a back wall 258 of the
connector module 106, and a third horizontal cantilevered bottom
flange 290 which fits over a bottom wall 260 of the connector
module 106.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 10, each laterally-extending angled
passageway 270 in the vertical stripline shield 108 includes first
and second leg portions 292 and 294 substantially aligned with the
first and second leg portions 242 and 244 of an associated,
laterally-extending angled passageway 230 in the connector module
106 to form laterally-extending angled channels 304 in the paired
connector units 112. Each vertical stripline shield 108 is further
formed to include two pairs of opposed tabs 306 near the front and
back of the vertical stripline shield 108. The opposed tabs 306
project into the laterally-extending angled passageways 270 in the
vertical stripline shields 108, and are configured to electrically
contact laterally-extending angled tailshields 110 inserted in the
laterally-extending angled channels 304 in the paired connector
units 112 to form a coaxial shield around each conductive path 202.
The top and bottom horizontal cantilevered flanges 286 and 290 of
the vertical stripline shield 108 slide over the external surfaces
154 of the top and bottom walls 124 and 126 of the front cap 102.
The top and bottom horizontal cantilevered flanges 286 and 290 are
formed to include top and bottom contact arms 296 to electrically
engage corresponding top and bottom ground pins 408 of the header
connector 400 as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. The top and bottom
horizontal cantilevered flanges 286 and 290 are additionally formed
to include tabs 298 which are configured to slide into
corresponding guide slots 128 in the top and bottom walls 124 and
126 of the front cap 102 to ensure alignment of the vertical
stripline shields 208 with the front cap 102. It will be understood
that the top and bottom contact arms 296 and the top and bottom
tabs 298 of the vertical stripline shields 108 are optional and may
be eliminated. As shown in FIG. 11, each group of eight
downwardly-extending shield tails 276 is arranged as seven side
shield tails 300 and one end shield tail 302 adjacent to a
respective one of pin tails 206. The downwardly-extending shield
tails 276 of the vertical stripline shields 108 may be press fitted
into the holes in a printed circuit board or soldered thereto.
[0049] Thus each vertical stripline shield 108 is designed to be
press fitted onto a connector module 106 so that the eight
laterally-extending angled passageways 270 therein align with the
eight laterally-extending angled passageways 230 in the connector
modules 106 to form eight laterally-extending angled channels 304,
the eight forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 thereof align with
the eight forwardly-extending receptacle contacts 204 of the
contact circuitry 200, the eight downwardly-extending shield tails
276 therein are disposed adjacent to the eight downwardly-extending
pin tails 206 of the contact circuitry 200, the first horizontal
cantilevered top flange 278 is inserted into the horizontal recess
248 of the connector module 106, the first vertical cantilevered
flange 280 is inserted into the vertical recess 250 of the
connector module 106, the six small tabs 252 of the connector
module 106 are inserted into the six small apertures 282 in the
vertical stripline shield 108, the two large tabs 254 of the
connector module 106 are inserted into the two large slots 284 in
the vertical stripline shield 108, the second horizontal
cantilevered top flange 286 of the vertical stripline shield 108
fits over the top wall 256 of the connector module 106, the second
vertical cantilevered flange 288 of the vertical stripline shield
108 fits over the back wall 258 of the connector module 106, and
the third horizontal cantilevered bottom flange 290 fits over the
bottom wall 260 of the connector module 106.
[0050] FIG. 12 shows seven horizontal shields 104 inserted into
seven laterally-extending slots 146 in the front cap 102 to form
eight laterally-extending compartments 148 in substantial alignment
with eight rows of pin-insertion windows 130 therein, and further
shows one of a plurality of paired connector units 112 positioned
for insertion into the front cap 102. As shown therein, the
internal surfaces of the top and bottom walls 124 and 126 of the
front cap 102 include a narrower guide slot 158 for guiding
insertion of a vertical stripline shield 108 and a broader guide
slot 160 for guiding insertion of an associated connector module
106. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the laterally-extending angled
passageways 230 and 270 in the connector modules 106 and the
vertical stripline shields 108 are aligned with each other to form
a plurality of laterally-extending angled channels 304 extending
side-to-side between the opposite sides of the socket connector
100. The vertical dividers 140 in the front cap 102 horizontally
separate the forwardly-extending receptacle contacts 204 of the
connector modules 106 from each other and from the
forwardly-extending shield fingers 274 of the associated vertical
stripline shields 108. The horizontal shields 104, on the other
hand, vertically separate the eight forwardly-extending receptacle
contacts 204 and the eight forwardly-extending shield fingers 274
from each other. The flexible contacts 180 of the horizontal
shields 104 electrically contact the forwardly-extending shield
fingers 274 of the vertical stripline shields 108 to form a coaxial
shield around each receptacle contact 204. The use of two flexible
contacts 180 at the front and back of the horizontal shields 104
serves to distribute the ground currents radially around the
receptacle contacts 204, thereby reducing the crosstalk between
neighboring signals.
[0051] FIG. 13 shows eight laterally-extending angled tailshields
110 positioned for insertion into the eight laterally-extending
angled channels 304 in the socket connector 100. Each
laterally-extending angled tailshield 110 is formed to include
first and second leg portions 312 and 314 substantially aligned
with the first and second leg portions 292 and 294 of the vertical
stripline shields 108. The opposed tabs 306 of the eight vertical
stripline shields 108 electrically contact the laterally-extending
angled tailshields 110 inserted into the eight laterally-extending
angled channels 304 to form a coaxial shield around each conductive
path 202 as more clearly shown in FIG. 14. As previously indicated,
the use of two pairs of opposed tabs 306 near the front and back of
the vertical stripline shield 108 serves to distribute the ground
currents radially around the conductive paths 202, thereby reducing
the crosstalk between neighboring signals. The laterally-extending
angled tailshields 110 may be formed instead by plating the
laterally extending passageways 230 in the connector modules
106.
[0052] FIGS. 15, 15a and 16 show the header connector 400 in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The header
connector 400 includes a header body 402, a plurality of signal
pins 404, a continuous strip having a plurality of shield blades
406 formed therein, and a plurality of ground pins 408. Except for
their length, the ground pins 408 are substantially identical to
the signal pins 404. The header body 402 is formed to include a
vertical front wall 410, and top and bottom laterally-extending,
horizontal walls 412 and 414 projecting perpendicularly therefrom.
The front wall 410 is formed to include a plurality of first
signal-pin-receiving openings 416, a plurality of second shield
blade-receiving openings 418, and a plurality of third
ground-pin-receiving openings 420, all of which extend between the
internal and external surfaces 422 and 424 thereof. The plurality
of second shield-blade-receiving openings 418 are formed to have a
generally right angle cross-section.
[0053] The plurality of signal pins 404 are configured for
insertion into the plurality of first signal-pin-receiving openings
416 in the header connector 400 to form an array of pin contacts
426 (shown in FIG. 1) which are configured for reception in an
array of pin-insertion windows 130 in the socket connector 100,
when the socket connector 100 is inserted into the header connector
400. Each signal pin 404 includes a first end 452 extending above
the front wall 410 of the header connector 400, and a second end
454 spaced apart from the first end 452 and configured for
insertion into an opening 36 in a printed circuit board 34.
[0054] The plurality of shield blades 406 are formed to include a
generally right angle shielding portion 428 configured to be
inserted into the plurality of second, generally right angle
shield-blade-receiving openings 418. Each shield blade 406 includes
a first end 462 extending above the front wall 410 of the header
connector 400 adjacent to the first end 452 of a signal pin 404,
and a second end 464 spaced apart from the first end 462 configured
for insertion into a hole 38 in the printed circuit board 34
adjacent to the second end 454 of the signal pin 404. As shown in
FIGS. 15a, the generally right angle shielding portion 428 of each
of the plurality of shield blades 406 includes substantially
perpendicular first and second leg portions 430 and 432.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 16, the first signal-pin-receiving openings
416 and the second shield-blade-receiving openings 418 are arranged
symmetrically in the front wall 410 of the header body 402 such
that the generally right angle shielding portions 428 of shield
blades 406 substantially surround the signal pins 404 to form a
coaxial shield around each of the plurality of signal pins 404.
Each of the plurality of second, generally right angle
shield-blade-receiving openings 418 includes a central portion 434
coupled to first and second end portions 436 and 438 by first and
second narrowed throat portions 440 and 442. The first and second
narrowed throat portions 440 and 442 are dimensioned to
frictionally engage the first and second leg portions 430 and 432
of the shield blades 406 to hold the shield blades 406 in place.
The central portion 434 and the first and second end portions 436
and 438 of each of the plurality of second generally right angle
openings 418 are formed to provide air gaps 444 surrounding the
generally right angle shielding portion 428 of a shield blade 406.
The geometry and dimensions of the air gaps 444, the geometry,
dimensions and material of the right angle shielding portions 428,
and the geometry, dimensions and material of the header body 402
surrounding the air gaps 444 are configured to tune the header
connector 400 to match a specified impedance (for example, 50
ohms). The configuration of the right angle shield blades 406 lends
itself to mass production in a continuous strip in a manner that
economizes material usage.
[0056] A plurality of ground pins 408 are configured for insertion
into the plurality of third ground-pin-receiving openings 420 in
the front wall 410 of the header connector 400. The plurality of
ground pins 408 are configured to engage contact arms 296 of the
corresponding vertical stripline shields 108 when the socket
connector 400 is inserted into the header connector 100 as shown in
FIGS. 22 and 23. Each ground pin 408 includes a first end 472
extending above the front wall 410 of the header connector 400, and
a second end 474 spaced apart from the first end 472 and configured
for insertion into a hole 40 in a printed circuit board 34.
[0057] Each of a plurality of signal pins 404 includes a pin tail
446, and each of the plurality of shield blades 406 includes a
shield tail 448. When the signal pins 404 and shield blades 406 are
inserted into the front wall 410 of the header body 402, the pin
tails 446 and the shield tails 448 extend outwardly from the
external surface 424 of the front wall 410 such that each shield
tail 448 is located adjacent to a pin tail 446.
[0058] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing first and second
header bodies 402 positioned end to end, and one of a plurality of
continuous strips of shield blades 406 configured for insertion
into a row of shield-blade-receiving openings 418 in the first and
second header bodies 402. The continuous strips of shield blades
406 extend between the first and second header bodies 402 to tie
them together to form a monoblock. The continuous strips of shield
blades 406 can be used to connect any number of header connectors
400 to create header connectors of variable length. As shown in
FIG. 15a, the strip of shield blades 406 may be formed to include a
right angle tab 406' at opposite ends thereof to provide a secure
connection between the header bodies 402. Monoblocking can also be
used on the socket side of the connectors. For example, the
horizontal tailshields 110 can extend between several adjoining
socket housings 120 to couple them together.
[0059] It is known to provide metal application or termination
tools (not shown) to install a header connector 400 onto a printed
circuit board at a customer's facility. These termination tools are
typically made of steel, and include a bottom wall formed to
include an array of holes for receiving the signal pins 404, shield
blades 406 and ground pins 408 of the header connector 400 therein.
The termination tools are used to install the header connector 400
onto a printed circuit board 34 at a customer's facility by pushing
on the ends of the signal and ground pins 404 and 408 or on
shoulders thereof. The holes in these termination tools may be
formed at different depths to set the signal and ground pins 404
and 408 at different heights in the installed header connector 400.
Illustratively, the difference in heights could be about {fraction
(30/1,000)} inches. Different height signal pins 404 are desirable
for sequencing the circuits on the printed circuit board, for
example, to power some circuits ahead of others. These conventional
termination tools are typically precision-machined metal parts, and
are relatively expensive.
[0060] FIGS. 18-21 show a relatively inexpensive plastic protective
cap 500 in accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, which doubles as a termination tool. The protective cap
500 protects the signal pins 404, the shield blades 406 and the
ground pins 408 of the header connector 400 during shipping and
handling of the header connector 400 until a socket connector 100
is plugged into the header connector 400 at a customer's facility,
at which time the protective cap 500 may be removed from the header
connector 400. At the customer's facility, the protective cap 500
is used to install the header connector 400 onto a printed circuit
board 34 without the need for any additional application or
termination tooling. The protective cap 500 includes a body 502
having a front wall 510, a top wall 512, a bottom wall 514 and back
wall 516. The cap body 502 is formed to include a plurality of ribs
520 that extend between the front and back walls 510 and 516
thereof to define a plurality of through slots 522 therein. The
slots 522 are configured to receive the planar first ends 462 of
the shield blades 406 when the protective cap 500 is inserted into
the header body 400. The ribs 520 are, in turn, formed to include a
plurality of holes 524 therein configured to receive the first ends
452 and 472 of the signal pins 404 and the ground pins 408.
[0061] The external surfaces of the top and bottom walls 512 and
514 are formed to include a plurality of guide grooves 550 which
are configured to engage corresponding plurality of guide portions
450 formed on the internal surfaces of the top and bottom walls 412
and 414 of the header connector 400 when the protective cap 500 is
inserted into the header connector 400. The engagement between the
guide grooves 550 in the protective cap 500 and the guide portions
450 in the header connector 400 serve to align the shield
blade-receiving slots 522 in the protective cap 500 with the shield
blades 406 in the header connector 400, and the signal and ground
pin-receiving holes 524 in the protective cap 500 with the signal
and ground pins 404 and 408 in the header connector 400.
[0062] The header connector 400 is shipped to a customer's facility
with a protective cap 500 in place. As previously indicated, the
protective cap 500 protects the signal pins 404, the shield blades
406 and the ground pins 408 during shipping and handling of the
protective cap 500 to a customer's facility. Additionally, the
protective cap 500 doubles as an application or termination tool to
press fit the header connector 400 onto a printed circuit board 34.
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the holes 524 molded in the ribs 530
in the protective cap 500 may be formed to vary in depths to allow
the signal pins 404 and the ground pins 408 to float up during
press fitting the header connector 400 onto a printed circuit board
34. This is possible because the force generated by press fitting
the header connector 400 onto a printed circuit board 34 is larger
than the force required to move the signal pins 404 and the ground
pins 408 in the header body 402. The signal pins 404 and the ground
pins 408 in the header body 402 move up in the header body 402
until the ends 452 and 472 of the signal pins 404 and the ground
pins 408 engage the end surfaces 526 of the holes 524 in the
protective cap 500.
[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the end surfaces 526 of the
holes 524 in the protective cap 500 push on the ends 452 and 472 of
the signal and ground pins 404 and 408 during press fitting of the
header connector 400 onto a printed circuit board 34. Alternately,
it is possible to provide shoulders on the signal and ground pins
404 and 408, and push on the shoulders instead. Pushing on the ends
452 and 472 of the signal and ground pins 404 and 408 of the header
connector 400 during assembly of the header connector 400, instead
of shoulders thereof, is particularly desirable for high density
connectors because the shoulderless signal and ground pins 404 and
408 occupy smaller space, and can be placed in closer proximity to
each other.
[0064] The back wall 516 of the protective cap is formed to include
a tab 552 that is used for removing the protective cap 500 from the
header connector 400 prior to insertion of a socket connector 100
therein. The protective cap 500 is molded from relatively
inexpensive thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is
soft enough so that the ends 452 and 472 of the signal and ground
pins 404 and 408 will not be damaged during installation of the
header connector 400 onto a printed circuit board 34. On the other
hand, the thermoplastic material is not too soft to allow the ends
452 and 472 to puncture the walls of the protective cap 500 more
than a few thousands of an inch.
[0065] FIGS. 23 and 24 show assembly of the socket connector 100
with the header connector 400. External guide means such as card
guides or guide pins (not shown) are provided on the opposite sides
of the header connector 400 to guide the insertion of the socket
connector 100 into the header connector 400--so that the array of
pin-insertion windows 130 in the socket connector 100 are aligned
with the array of pin contacts 426 in the header connector 400
prior to insertion of the pin contacts 426 into the receptacle
contacts 204 of the socket connector 100. As the socket connector
100 is inserted into the header connector 400, the shield blades
406 of the header connector 400 contact corresponding shield
fingers 274 of the socket connector 100, and the ground pins 408 of
the header connector 400 contact corresponding contact arms 296 of
the vertical stripline shields 106. The pin tails 206 and shield
tails 276 of the socket connector 100 and the pin tails 446 and
shield tails 448 of the header connector 400 can be either press
fitted into the holes in the printed circuit boards or soldered
thereto. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14a, the pin tails 206 and
446 and shield tails 276 and 448 could instead be surface mounted
to the printed circuit boards.
[0066] Thus, the vertical stripline shields 108 (sometimes referred
to herein as "first shields" or "first shield portions") cooperate
with the laterally-extending tailshields 110 (sometimes referred to
herein as "second shields" or "second shield portions") inserted
into the laterally-extending angled channels 304 in the socket
connector 100 to form a coaxial shield around each conductive path
202. The vertical stripline shields 108 further cooperate with the
horizontal shields 104 (sometimes referred to herein as "third
shields") to form a coaxial shield around each receptacle contact
204 of the socket connector 100. In addition, the generally right
angle shield blades 406 of the header connector 400 substantially
surround the signal pins 404 of the header connector 400 to form a
coaxial shield around each of the plurality of signal pins 404.
[0067] The connector materials, geometry and dimensions are all
designed to maintain a specified impedance throughout the part.
[0068] The socket connector 100 of the present invention can be
reconfigured to form differential pairs in columns and rows. For
example, every other vertical stripline shield 108 can be removed
in the socket connector 100 to form differential pairs in rows.
Likewise, every other horizontal shield 104 and every other
tailshield 110 can be removed in the socket connector 100 to form
differential pairs in columns.
[0069] As previously indicated, additional connections can be made
simply by increasing the number of connector modules 106 inserted
into the front cap 102. Although the illustrated connector assembly
30 is designed to make connections which are a multiple of eight
(8), it will be noted that the connector assembly 30 in accordance
with the present invention may very well be designed to make
connections which are a multiple of a number other than eight
(8).
[0070] The design of the illustrated connector assembly 30 lends
itself to the creation of connectors which are of a variable
length. The continuous strips of shield blades 406 can be used to
connect any number of header connectors 400 to create header
connectors of variable length. Monoblocking can also be used on the
socket side of the connectors. For example, the horizontal
tailshields 110 can extend between several adjoining socket
housings 120 to couple them together.
[0071] All plastic parts are molded from suitable thermoplastic
material--such as liquid crystal polymer ("LCP"). The protective
cap 500 may be molded from nylon. The metallic parts are made from
plated copper alloy material.
[0072] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and
modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as
described and defined in the following claims.
* * * * *